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Yokogawa Electric Corporation announces that it has developed three new field wireless system devices and enhanced existing wireless pressure and temperature transmitters, all of which are compliant with the ISA100.11a*1 wireless standard. The first of these products are scheduled to be released in March 2012.

These new wireless products can be used to construct highly reliable large-scale plant networks, and may also be incorporated in small- and medium-sized networks that already utilize our existing products, substantially expanding their capability. This is in line with our “Grow” concept of enabling customers to expand their plant wireless networks while making full use of existing assets.
Development Background

A wireless network that connects a control system with field devices such as differential pressure/pressure transmitters and temperature transmitters has many advantages: it reduces cabling and other installation costs, and allows the installation of equipment in difficult to wire locations.

In July 2010, Yokogawa began offering entry-level field wireless system solutions based on the YFGW710 field wireless integrated gateway. Users of these systems have come to value their high reliability, real-time performance, and environmental resistance, which help ensure stable plant operations, as well as their immunity to electromagnetic interference and secure wireless communications. A number of these users now wish to expand their wireless networks.

To meet this demand for large and reliable plant wireless networks, we have developed three new field wireless system devices and enhanced two existing field wireless transmitters.

New Lineup of ISA100.11a Compliant Wireless Devices

Product – Description
(1) Field wireless management station – A new gateway device for connecting production control systems and field wireless devices; includes system and security management functions
(2) Field wireless access point – A new router device for connecting field wireless devices and gateways
(3) Field wireless media converter – A new device that converts data from 100BASE-TX to 100BASE-FX
(4) EJX-B series differential pressure/pressure transmitters – Enhancements: Detachable remote antenna and low power consumption design
(5) YTA 510 temperature transmitter – Enhancements: Detachable remote antenna and low power consumption design

Product Features

1. Dual redundancy
Each of the new field wireless system devices has a backup device. If the communications link is broken or a hardware failure occurs in any of these devices, automatic switchover to the backup device is implemented and the communications link is restored, ensuring uninterrupted communications with field wireless devices and increased reliability in process monitoring. This also would present the same benefits in any future application of wireless communications technology for process control.

2. Expanded system scale and enhanced flexibility
Compared to the YFGW710, the new field wireless management station can manage up to ten times the number of field wireless devices. Both it and the new field wireless access point support communications with 100BASE-TX, 100BASE-FX, and wireless LAN networks, allowing for both the expansion of plant wireless networks and the full use of existing assets.

3. Remote antenna, optional high-gain antenna, low power consumption design
Both the EJX-B and YTA510 transmitters now come with an antenna that can be removed and mounted in a separate location, extending the communications range. A high-gain antenna*2 option is also available that can extend the communications range up to four times. And through the incorporation of low power consumption design features, battery life is now twice as long.

Our Approach to Field Wireless Communications
Yokogawa presents wireless communications and other field digital technology solutions that help companies optimize their plant operations. Support of the ISA100.11a standard ensures high reliability, application flexibility, network expandability, and compatibility with a variety of wired communication standards.

In July 2010, Yokogawa released the world’s first ISA100.11a compliant field wireless devices. As the industry’s support of the ISA100.11a standard gains momentum, the number of ISA100.11a products is expected to increase. We will continue to enhance interoperability for seamless connection with other companies’ products and develop sophisticated wireless control solutions for continuous processes. Our focus is on proposing field wireless communications solutions based on the “Grow” concept. By making possible the expansion of wireless systems, educating users about wireless solutions, and improving convenience, we aim to help our customers grow their plant operations.

For more information

*1 ISA100.11a
A wireless communication standard for the industrial automation field that was established in September 2009 by the ISA100 Committee of the International Society of Automation (ISA). This was approved as a National Standard by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) in December 2011, and will be submitted to the IECSC65C Subcommittee for approval as an international standard.

*2 High-gain antenna
Also called a “long distance antenna,” a high-gain antenna emits strong radio waves, allowing wireless communications over a wider distance. Please note that local regulations may restrict the use of certain antennas with the field wireless access point, EJX-B, and/or YTA510.

About Yokogawa
Yokogawa' s global network of 25 manufacturing facilities and 80 companies spans 54 countries. Since its founding in 1915, the US$3 billion company has been engaged in cutting-edge research and innovation, securing more than 7,200 patents and registrations, including the world's first digital sensors for flow and pressure measurement. Industrial automation and control, test and measurement, information systems and industry support are the core businesses of Yokogawa. For more information about Yokogawa, please visit yokogawa.com/.

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